Torah of Life

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

There were 39 categories of work needed to fashion the Mishkan. These same 39 categories of work are prohibited on Shabbos. The commentaries explain that the Mishkan was a Home created by mankind to invite G-d into our lives. The acts needed to create the Mishkan paralleled the spiritual energies of G-d when He created this world for us as a home. Thus 39 categories of the Mishkan are the same categories through which we observe the Shabbos day of rest. Activities such as changing a substance by heat (cooking), building, or joining cloth (weaving or sewing) are forbidden on Shabbos.

One wonders then, why the Torah singles out the use of fire as an example of a forbidden act on Shabbos. Why is it necessary to single one category out as an example, and why is fire the one category to be chosen as the example?

A number of years ago I got a call from one of my online participants. The woman was invited to spend Shabbos with her on-the-phone study partner. She was wondering what kind of gift she should bring to her hostess. I asked her what she was thinking of bringing, and she said, “A tray of candy.” I said, “That’s a great idea… You just need to check that it has a kosher certification.”

At the time she was not yet familiar with kosher certification, so she asked if she might buy a fancy glass tray which they would use to serve the food on Shabbos. I was encouraging, but I felt obliged to make her aware that in all probability the hostess would not use the tray on the very Shabbos that she received it, as a new tray has to be immersed in mikvah before it is used. Before I could suggest that she get flowers, or bring the tray for the hostess’ future enjoyment, the woman blurted out, “Well if candy doesn’t work, and a tray isn’t good, I guess I’ll just go with nothing.”

Eventually, she decided to get a bouquet of beautiful flowers for her hostess. But the words she exclaimed have stayed with me. “…There are so many rules… I guess I will just do nothing.” It seems that people who try so hard to observe can sometimes slip into “stringent mode” instead of properly investigating the matter and arriving at a solution.

Interestingly, in most areas of Shabbos observance, if a person chose to be strict, he could survive. Take for example a person who is not sure if playing Scrabble is a Shabbos violation of writing. Such a person can theoretically avoid asking a learned person the question, and simply choose not to play Scrabble on Shabbos. Likewise, if someone is not sure if a safety-pin is allowed to be used on Shabbos because it seems to be like sewing, he can choose to be strict and simply not deal with it on Shabbos.

There is, however, one exception. That is, using a fire on Shabbos. There is a specific mitzvah on Shabbos to enjoy hot food. As such one must learn the laws and find out how to set the food up properly so that there will be hot food on Shabbos. One cannot simply say, “I will do without.” One cannot simply say, “Oh. I guess I will just do nothing.”

The example of fire as prohibited on Shabbos is meant to reach out to us as observant Jews and illustrate how all Torah laws are meant to be followed. There are some cases that will be forbidden, and there will be other cases that will be permitted. The Torah encourages us to go beyond the first step of respecting Torah, and actually become knowledgeable enough that we can implement it pleasantly, with choices, in our lives.

Consider for example the emphasis that we place in Torah Judaism on Shalom Bayis and proper Tzniyus conduct. There are many other systems (religious and otherwise) which simply don’t know how to handle the men/women dynamic… so they don’t. They may thoroughly ignore the subject, or they may choose to abuse it. Even in the world of advertising, the word “Love” can be thrown around to promote just about anything, such as, “Love is a Subaru,” even though we know for certain that love is not a Subaru.

The Torah attitude is that there are rules. But those rules are not meant to close us down. Just as the internet needs to have rules, and just as driving a car has to have rules, Torah living has rules. But rules are not meant to close us down. Although the first reaction of sincere observance and respect may be, “Oh, so I guess I’ll just do nothing,” it is hoped that we continue to grow in our knowledge and interactions so that Torah is not restricting but rather guiding.

Properly using fire on Shabbos is a powerful example of the way all of Torah is meant to become a part of our lives. Fire is restricted on Shabbos. Yet, we are still told: Enjoy the benefits of fire; enjoy the benefits according to the rules.

© 2015 by TEACH613™